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The League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ) kicked off the Clean Air Promise Campaign on August 23, 2011 in Newark, NJ. Alongside other environmental, public health, and advocacy organizations, the LWVNJ encouraged all citizens, community leaders, and elected officials to make the “Clean Air Promise”. LWVNJ’s event and efforts are part of a national campaign for individuals to make a simple promise to safeguard the health of children and families through protection of the highly successful and popular Clean Air Act.

The campaign comes at a time when some public officials have attempted to undermine the Clean Air Act and strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to limit air pollution and emission of toxics like mercury, arsenic and other dangerous substances which threaten public health.

“For too long, the debate about pollution has focused on “overregulation” and featured false assertions that environmental protections hurt our economy,” said LWVNJ president Toni Zimmer at the event. “The fact is clean air saves lives and we must put the safety of our families and children first.”

LWVNJ brought a number of different organizations together to kick off the campaign, including NJ League of Conservation Voters, NJ Sierra Club, NJ Environmental Federation, Environment NJ, Members of the NJ Clean Air Council, Ironbound Community Corporation, NJ Environmental Justice Alliance, Newark Environmental Commission, Doctors from Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Weequahic Park Association. These organizations are sharing the promise with their membership. Over half of the individuals who attended the event signed the promise.

“I encourage all New Jerseyans, including our elected officials, community leaders, and business leaders, to join with the League of Women Voters of New Jersey in making a promise to keep us all safe from toxics and pollutants. Make the promise to show your support of clean air policies and other protections that scientists and public health experts have recommended to the EPA. Visit www.peoplenotpolluters.org today and let the country know New Jersey demands clean air” concluded Zimmer.